Team selected for opening World Cup event of the 2024 season

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is pleased to announce the athletes who will be representing GB Climbing at the inaugural events of the 2024 IFSC World Cup series in China.

The first event is the Boulder competition from 8 – 10 April being held at the Shaoxing Keqiao Yangshan Sport Climbing Centre in Keqiao, the same venue that hosted the Asian Games in October 2023. Later in the week sees the IFSC Lead and Speed World Cup in Wujiang, scheduled for 11-14 April.

GB Climbing’s Molly Thompson-Smith will compete in the women’s Boulder and Lead competitions. After dislocating her ankle in a rock-climbing accident in September 2022, the 26-year-old made an impressive return to the international stage in 2023, finishing in 12th position in the Boulder & Lead at the IFSC World Championships in Bern. With only three months remaining until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Thompson-Smith will be joined in the Women’s event by 19-year-old Erin McNeice, who concluded her 2023 season with an 18th place finish at the IFSC European Qualifier in Laval. Both Thompson-Smith and McNeice are eligible to compete in the Olympic Qualifying Series later this season.

Also joining the team is 19-year-old Toby Roberts, currently ranked number two in the world for Lead & Boulder. Roberts made history as the first British man to secure an Olympic quota place, winning the gold medal in Laval in October 2023. Roberts will be seeking to add to his podium tally in the Boulder and Lead competitions after securing three gold medals in 2023.

Jack MacDougall and Max Milne join Roberts in the men’s Lead and Boulder field, both athletes are also eligible to compete in the Olympic Qualifying Series. MacDougall’s breakthrough in 2023 was the IFSC European Cup Chambéry 2023, where he placed 3rd. Milne, currently ranked 35th in the Boulder & Lead world rankings, aims to improve upon his 11th place position in the Boulder competition of the IFSC World Cup Brixen 2023.

Dayan Akhtar is also in the team for the Boulder round in Keqiao. The boulderer previously won gold at the IFSC Europe Continental Youth Championship in Graz 2022. Making his debut on the senior competition circuit in 2023, Akhtar's best result of the season was an 11th place finish at the IFSC European Cup in Loverval.

Jon Garside, acting Head of Performance for GB Climbing, said: “Our athletes had a brilliant year in 2023, with some fantastic results, including Toby’s gold medal win in Laval. These performances fill me with a lot of confidence for the 2024 season as our climbers get the chance to showcase their skills to the world.

“It’s a credit to the team, home coaches, and GB Climbing coaching staff that we can support these athletes to become the best in their disciplines, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that plays out on the wall.”

For news and updates about the 2024 season, visit the GB Climbing website and follow us on our digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, and X.

GB Climbing squad for the IFSC:

Women’s Boulder & Lead:

Erin McNeice

Molly Thompson-Smith

Men’s Boulder & Lead:

Jack MacDougall

Max Milne

Toby Roberts

Men’s Boulder:

Dayan Akhtar

Coaching team:

Liam Briddon